It's interesting. in the very early 1900's, colonizers like Britain began to impose Hut Taxes on all African families so they would be able to generate more money outside of solely trading. These were farmers who led self-sufficient and presumably content lives, but were now forced into working capitalist positions they didn't even need, just to pay off false expenses they didn't really even have. South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Sierra Lone, Liberia, Zambia, and more all fell victim to these tactics.

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Aside from raising tax revenue, one of the goals of the hut taxes was to turn the African population into a wage labor force.This was especially true in Southern Africa. In South Africa, the discovery of gold and diamonds meant that British capitalists needed a large workforce to work in mines.

The hut taxes imposed on areas with large African populations helped to force Africans to send family members out to work in mines in order to raise the money to pay the hut tax. In other cases, hut taxes were designed primarily to fund colonial administration. Eventually, the Mende rebellion was also suppressed by government forces, and close to 100 leaders were executed for participating in the rebellion.

Thousands died rebelling overall, but aren't many Blacks globally still suffering from the same thing in 2014? Taking out school loans to get a job, and then graduating only to get a mortgage, then having a home but still paying annual house tax and HOA fees, and so on... It's almost like you could've worked your way into a mansion, but still have paid many a "Hut Tax" along the way. Does this make sense?

One of the most important UNESCO heritage site in Ethiopia is the Konso Village and it looks like this.

These mud huts have withstood almost 500 years of weather conditions and living.

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Konso Cultural Landscape is a 55km2 arid property of stone walled terraces and fortified settlements in the Konso highlands of Ethiopia. It constitutes a spectacular example of a living cultural tradition stretching back 21 generations (more than 400 years) adapted to its dry hostile environment. The landscape demonstrates the shared values, social cohesion and engineering knowledge of its communities. The site also features anthropomorphic wooden statues - grouped to represent respected members of their communities and particularly heroic events - which are an exceptional living testimony to funerary traditions that are on the verge of disappearing. Stone steles in the towns express a complex system of marking the passing of generations of leaders.

Modern Mud Huts

Green housing from the ground

by Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen

It’s no wonder straw bale, rammed earth, and hempcrete homes are getting more popular: they’re low maintenance, rodent-proof, fire-resistant, eco-friendly, and healthier than conventional houses. These modern mud huts, or green houses, are popping up all over Canada–and they’re slowly edging their way into the mainstream.

Living in Africa for three years taught me a few things about mud huts: they’re sturdy, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly. They don’t contain nasty toxins, and the bits of straw, paper, and odds and ends sticking out of the walls look kinda funky.

Africans build mud huts because the material is plentiful and easy to work with. Same with mud huts here in Canada–plus they’re often healthier than many conventional buildings. For instance, rammed earth can alleviate symptoms of sick-building syndrome (SBS). Straw bale homes are easier on asthma and allergy sufferers than conventional houses. Hempcrete can reduce carbon dioxide emissions, allowing occupants and neighbors to breathe easier.

On British Columbia’s Bowen Island, Ruth Harding, Burns Jennings, and Jayeson Hendyrsan are building their own modern mud huts.

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